Maintaining Good Posture At Work

25 Aug 2017

Our everyday lives ofen make it difficult to practice the correct posture. From our office desks to lounging around on the sofa at home, most of us don’t consider our posture on a day to day basis, but it’s important to understand that bad posture can lead some serious health issues.

Slouching for hours on end can lead to back pain, poor digestion, poor circulation and even arthritis. Even more surprisingly, a study found that a slouched body posture can lead to decreased energy and feelings of depression!

Although its sounds a lot of work to maintain correct posture throughout the day, the benefits of doing so will make that little bit of effort more than worthwhile!

The benefits of good posture include:

– Allowing the muscles to be used correctly by keeping bones and joints in correct alignment which decreases the risk of arthritis and joint pain.

-Helps prevent muscle pain and back strain

-Reduces stress on ligaments in the spine

-Helps muscles to work better, allowing the body to use less energy which reduces fatigue.

If you do feel achy after a day at the office, here are my top tips to help you maintain better posture whilst sat at your desk:

Ensure you have the correct seating

Ergonomic chairs take posture problems into consideration. These types of chairs have all the features including back rests, that support the natural curve of your spine and head rests that support your posture whilst you’re sitting. With adjustable height and back settings to make sure your feet are flat on the floor at a 90-degree angle and parallel to the hips at all times, ergonomic chairs evoke good posture.

Uncross your legs

Women in particular are guilty of sitting with their legs crossed throughout the day. Although sitting this way comes natural to many of us and feels like a comfortable position, it is terrible for your circulation and posture. When sat on your chair your feet should be flat on the floor with your knees at a 90-degree angle, if you struggle to do this, try placing your feet on a box or a foot rest.

Stand up

Sit-stand desks are a great way to stop poor posture. When you’re feeling lethargic and slouching in your chair, they allow you to get up and stand for a while. Standing up at your desk helps with circulation and can also improve your overall health!

Stretch

It’s important to stretch throughout the day to get blood flowing around your body. Simple arm, leg and neck stretches can be done whilst sat at your desk and will help prevent you feeling stiff at the end of the working day.

Get up and move

Sitting for 8 hours a day is very dangerous and brings with it a whole host of health problems from aches and pains to diabetes. You should get up from your desk and walk around at least once every hour of the working day. If there’s lifts in your workplace- take the stairs, park further away from the building and go and speak to your colleagues across the office instead of pinging them an email. Activity gives you and instant energy boost that will make it easier to maintain better posture once your sat back at your desk.

This post was written by

Simon Clark - Interiors Specialist

As one of our Office Interiors experts, Simon’s passion for designing dream workspaces is contagious. With over 25 years experience, you can be confident your project is in safe hands.